
Rapid City vs Tucson
$56/mo less in Tucson
Rapid CityTucsonAbout 962 miles apart, a flight.
- Tucson costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 286 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,526/mo in Tucson. $2,582/mo in Rapid City. −$672 a year.
Rapid City
$2,582
left each month
Tucson
$2,526
−$56 vs Rapid City
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 38 households moved Rapid City → Tucson (avg AGI $58,816). The whole move →
−$56 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Rapid City | Tucson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,833 | $6,951 | +$117 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,327 | $1,505 | +$178 |
| Take-home pay | $5,506 | $5,445 | −$61 |
| Rent | $1,138 | $1,009 | −$129 |
| Getting around | $515 | $547 | +$32 |
| Groceries | $351 | $376 | +$25 |
| Healthcare | $395 | $423 | +$28 |
| Utilities | $219 | $235 | +$16 |
| Everything else | $307 | $329 | +$22 |
| Left over | $2,582 | $2,526 | −$56 |
Salary to match Rapid City
$84,500
Gross pay in Tucson that leaves the same amount as $82,000 in Rapid City.
Tax difference
−$1,720
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 19.4% in Rapid City, 21.7% in Tucson.
More about Tucson
Rapid City, SD in full
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,355 and 237 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
Tucson, AZ in full
Phoenix weather and hiking at a serious discount, on lower wages.
The other way
Start in Tucson.
Tucson → Rapid City →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Tucson than Rapid City?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Tucson leaves about $56 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,138 in Rapid City and $1,009 in Tucson.
Does Tucson have state income tax?
Tucson is in Arizona, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Rapid City to Tucson?
The paycheck is taxed in Arizona. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Rapid City and Tucson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.